Robin Martin-Jenkins quits first-class cricket

Robin Martin-Jenkins, the Sussex allrounder, has announced that he will retire from first-class cricket this summer. The current County Championship match against Worcestershire will be his last four-day match at Hove, his home ground.

Robin, 35, is set to embark on a new career as a Geography and RS teacher at Hurstpierpoint College, when the new term begins this September. He won't be available for selection after July 19, when Sussex and Worcestershire meet at a Pro 40 match at Hove.

The son of leading cricket journalist, author, and Times cricket correspondent Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Robin made his first-class debut in 1995 and has scored 7174 runs and taken 378 wickets. He had a better career as a bowler in limited-overs games, taking 234 wickets and scoring 1996 runs in 228 matches.

"I could have carried on, but I didn't want to get to the stage where I was holding on too long and not performing," Robin said. "I'm still enjoying it and I'm going out in a period when I'm still playing well, but I've been given a fantastic opportunity outside of cricket now and I intend to grab it with both hands. It's a good time for the club too as there are some excellent young players coming through.

"It's been amazing to play for the club in what has been probably their greatest decade ever, it's been a great honour. Yes, there were some tough times when I first broke into the team but that made guys like me stronger cricketers, and we reaped the rewards with the countless trophies we went on to win".

Robin was talked of as a potential allrounder for England, but never made the grade. "I have no regrets. I have always given my all throughout my career and I've been very proud to play for Sussex," Robin added.

Sussex chairman Jim May said Robin was a fantastic servant to the county over 15 seasons. "He has played a vital role in our sustained success and has certainly been an unsung hero of our three County Championship winning sides," May said. "Not only is he an excellent allrounder, but he is also one of the genuinely nicest guys in the game. All of us here at Sussex are disappointed that Robin is leaving us whilst he is in the form of his life, but at the same time we are delighted that he has planned the next phase of his career, and we wish him well".